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What are the symptoms of CIPN?

The symptoms or signs of chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) depend mostly on which nerves are involved. The most common symptoms are:

Pain (which may be there all the time or come and go, like shooting or stabbing pain)

Burning

Tingling (“pins and needles” feeling) or electric/shock-like pain

Loss of feeling (which can be numbness or just less ability to sense pressure, touch, heat, or cold)

Trouble using your fingers to pick up or hold things; dropping things

Balance problems

Trouble with tripping or stumbling while walking

Being more sensitive to cold or heat

Being more sensitive to touch or pressure

Shrinking muscles

Muscle weakness

Trouble swallowing

Constipation

Trouble passing urine

Blood pressure changes

Decreased or no reflexes

CIPN can cause severe pain and can affect your ability to do things like walk, write, button your shirt, or pick up coins. If it gets very bad, it can cause more serious problems like changes in your heart rate and blood pressure, dangerous falls, trouble breathing, paralysis, or organ failure.

Talk to your doctor or nurse right away about any symptoms of CIPN that you have. They’ll want to watch you closely to see if the problems get worse. They may need to change your treatment plan.

What else can cause these symptoms?

Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by other things besides chemo, such as: